Review: Del Taco - Beef Crunchtada Pizza

Del Taco's Beef Crunchtada Pizza features a tostada shell topped with seasoned ground beef, nacho cheese, taco sauce, freshly-grated cheddar, diced tomatoes, and cilantro. They forgot the nacho cheese on the one I got however.

The Beef Crunchtada Pizza carries a price tag of $2.29 but I received this one courtesy of Del Taco.

News: New Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups in 2014

Nestle is getting into the peanut butter cups game in January of 2014 with the debut of new Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups.

The new peanut butter cups seek to compete against King Reese's by offering a Butterfinger twist to the standard peanut-butter filling by the inclusion of pieces of Butterfinger trademark filling to add some crunch. The tagline on the packaging is "Smooth & Crunchy."

News: Jack in the Box - The Monster Taco is Back

The Monster Taco is back for good at Jack in the Box.

Essentially an over-sized Jack in the Box Taco, you'll find the same ingredients inside: a blend of beef and soy protein topped with American cheese, shredded lettuce, and taco sauce.

The Monster Taco carries a suggested price of $1.29. Compared to the two for 99 cents price of their regular Tacos and it doesn't seem as much of a value.

Review: Panda Express - Honey Sesame Chicken Breast

Panda Express' Honey Sesame Chicken Breast features pieces of battered chicken breast, string beans, and yellow bell peppers wok-tossed in a sweet honey sesame sauce topped with sesame seeds.

It costs the same as most of their entrees, which for a 2-entree plate comes out to $6.59.

News: Jack in the Box - $4.99 BLT Cheeseburger Combo is Back

Jack in the Box has brought back the BLT Cheeseburger for a limited time. 

The burger is fairly run-of-the-mill and features a beef patty, hickory-smoked bacon, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, pickles, American cheese, and mayo-onion sauce on a sesame bun.

It was introduced back in 2012 (when I tried it) along with the infamous Bacon Shake, but as you can see, only one of them came back.

Around the World: Burger King's Satisfries Called "GratiFries" in Canada

In a bit of a strange move, Burger King's new Satisfries go by not one, but two different names up north in Canada.

In most of Canada, they're called "GratiFries," while in French-speaking Quebec, they're called MagniFrites, a play on the French word magnifique.

Review: Papa John's - Mega Chocolate Chip Cookie

Papa John's Mega Chocolate Chip Cookie is a 8-inch, family-sized cookie 'pizza' cut into 8 slices for sharing.

I picked one up for $5.

News: McDonald's - New Southwest Chicken McWrap

McDonald's new, limited-time Southwest Chicken McWrap is the latest addition to the McWrap line up and adds a bit of spice to the menu.

The newest McWrap features slices of crispy or grilled chicken glazed with a cilantro lime sauce, chili-lime tortilla strips, spring greens, two half slices of tomato, shredded cheddar jack cheese, and a spicy habanero ranch sauce wrapped up in a warm flour tortilla.

News: Pei Wei Asian Diner - New Sriracha Pineapple Pork Lettuce Wraps

Pei Wei Asian Diner recently introduced a new, limited-time fall flavor to their line of lettuce wraps, new Sriracha Pineapple Pork.

Sriracha Pineapple Pork Wraps feature a filling of wok-seared pork, pineapples, red onions, and red and green bell peppers finished with spicy Sriracha sauce and served in lettuce cups.

Review: Red Robin - Oktoberfest Burger

Red Robin's Oktoberfest Burger is a seasonal burger they offer around this time of year and features a flame-grilled 1/3 lb. burger patty, Black Forest ham, Swiss cheese, beer mustard, sauteed onions, and lettuce on a toasted pretzel bun.

I ordered the burger for $9.99. It comes with an order of bottomless steak fries (you can also swap out the fries for bottomless broccoli, side salad, or coleslaw without an additional charge).

News: Carl's Jr. / Hardee's - New Maple Sausage, Egg and Cheese Biscuit

Carl's Jr. and sister chain Hardee's are offering the new Maple Sausage, Egg and Cheese Biscuit as their ode to the fall.

Each sandwich comes with three maple sausage links, a slice of American cheese, and egg between two halves of a fresh-made biscuit.

The menu item was tested earlier this year and performed well enough to make it to the national stage.

News: Olive Garden - Buy One, Take One Deal is Back

Olive Garden has brought their "Buy One, Take One" deal back this fall.

Under the promotion, you can buy one entree from a limited selection to enjoy at the restaurant with unlimited breadsticks and soup or salad for $12.99 ($17.49 in Canada) and get a second one of your choice from the same selection to take home.

News: Chipotle - Come in Costume for $3 Burrito on Halloween

It's Boorito time at Chipotle again. The annual promotion and fundraiser runs from 4pm to closing on Halloween and offers customers who come dressed in costume their choice of a burrito, bowl, salad, or order of tacos for a discounted $3.

Proceeds from sales (up to $1 million) will benefit the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation, whose stated goal is to "promote sustainable agriculture, family farming, and culinary education."

Review: El Pollo Loco - Puffy Shell Tacos

El Pollo Loco's Puffy Shell Taco's main feature is a thick flour tortilla that has been lightly fried to puff up while retaining a "super-crisp" crust. They come in three varieties: Chicken & Chorizo, Chicken Avocado, and Chicken Guacamole.

They come two to an order for $5.49. I went for a mix-and-match with a Chicken & Chorizo Puffy Shell Taco and Chicken Avocado Puffy Shell Taco.

Around the World: Taco Bell's Fiesta Platters Survive in the Philippines

If you miss the Fiesta Platters that Taco Bell used to offer a few years back, you might be interested in knowing that you can still find them over in the Philippines albeit in a slightly more localized form.

News: Togo's Toasted Dips Return

Toasted Dips sandwiches are back at Togo's. Coming in two varieties, Roast Beef Dip and Triple Dips, the sandwiches are Togo's take on the classic French dip sandwich.

Around the World: McDonald's New Zealand Offers Georgie Pies

McDonald's is reviving a New Zealand fast food brand and getting into the meat pie business by offering Georgie Pies brand meat pies at select locations in the country.

The Georgie Pie brand was considered New Zealand's own homegrown alternative to American chains like McDonald's, Burger King, and the like and was bought by McDonald's in 1996 (largely for real estate which was converted into McDonald's restaurants).

Review: Frito Lay - Roasted Garlic & Sea Salt Wavy Lay's Potato Chips

Roasted Garlic & Sea Salt Wavy Lay's potato chips are a fairly recent addition to the Wavy Lay's line and is among the more simpler flavors put out by Frito Lay.

I picked up a 9.5-ounce bag on sale for $2.

Local Review: Grill 'Em All - NY Style Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake

Local burger joint Grill 'Em All is offering a NY Style Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake for the fall.

It goes for $5 and comes with orange chantilly cream (sweetened whipped cream) on top and garnished with a piece of cashew brittle made with Stone Brewing Co.'s IPA .

News: TGI Friday's - New Stacked Burgers

TGI Fridays recently introduced a new burger menu that includes a trio of new "Stacked Burgers," which each come with two never frozen USDA Choice beef burger patties and fresh-baked, brioche-style buns.

The three new burgers are the All-American Stacked Burger, Philly Stacked Burger, and Bleu Cheese Stacked Burger.